Patent · US Expired

Pixel structure, image sensor using such pixel structure and corresponding peripheral circuitry

US5933190A · kind A · utility

254Cited by
10References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 18, 1996
Grant dateAug 3, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 18, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10F39/18
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A pixel structure for CMOS imaging applications, the pixel structure including a photosensitive element, a load transistor in series with the photosensitive element, a first reading transistor, coupled to the photosensitive element and to the load transistor, for reading out signals acquired in the photosensitive element and converting the signals to a voltage drop across the load transistor. The gate length of at least the load transistor is increased by at least 10% compared to a gate length of transistors manufactured according to layout rules imposed by a CMOS manufacturing process, thereby increasing the light sensitivity of the pixel structure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.